# French Civil Code vegetation regulations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-civil-code-vegetation-regulations
> Updated: 2026-09-28T07:41:05.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

French property law, specifically under the Civil Code, regulates the management of vegetation between neighboring properties regarding both height and distance.

Regulations dictate that hedges located less than two meters from a boundary line must not exceed a height of two meters. Municipalities may issue sanctions for non-compliance, though regular pruning is a suggested method for maintaining legal limits.

Furthermore, the required distance from a property line is determined by the plant's height. Plants under two meters must be at least 50 centimeters from the boundary, while those exceeding two meters require a minimum distance of two meters. These measurements are taken from the center of the trunk. While national rules provide a general framework, local municipalities or homeowners' associations may impose stricter constraints, and neighbors may legally request the reduction or removal of plants that fail to meet these distance requirements.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: French law regulates vegetation distances between neighbors

French law regulates neighbor disputes regarding vegetation, requiring plants under 2 meters to be 50cm from boundaries and those over 2 meters to be 2 meters away.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-law-regulates-vegetation-distances-between-neighbors

### 2026-09-11: French Civil Code imposes height limits on boundary hedges

French law requires hedges planted within two meters of a property boundary to be kept under two meters in height to remain compliant with the Civil Code.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-civil-code-imposes-height-limits-on-boundary-hedges

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Cite as: French Civil Code vegetation regulations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-civil-code-vegetation-regulations